19 comments:

Funny... I was just wondering whether or not it was alright for me to be feeling all 1993 today. Seriously, when was the last time Blue Jays baseball was so exciting!? Congratulations to Brandon Morrow for throwing the most non-drug-related strikeouts in a game in Jays history.

Trying to remember games or stretch of games more memorable than these last two. Marcum's near no no on opening day vs Texas, Romero vs Chicago and the other near no-nos this year I can't even remember. The Doc-AJ showdown last year and the late winning streak. The home opening series vs Boston in 08 with Frank Thomas' GS. The late winning streak that year as well.

137 pitches... 137. there my friends is the black cloud of this silver lining. pray that it doesn't affect the rest of his season (even career), but don't be surprised if it does (anyone remember the tender arm this spring). stupid stupid stupid... all for a fuckin' no-hitter for a fourth place team that wants to build, of all things. The jays already have a no-hitter in the books, Dave Stieb, and really, he should be the one and only, forever.

@ Anon 6:35 - I don't think one outing of 137 pitches in pursuit of a no-hitter is THAT much cause for concern, especially since Morrow has been pitching for a couple years now. He was having a hell of a day, and obviously dominant, thus avoiding the "stress" situations that especially tax pitchers. I worry that Cito will let him go 100+ pitches in the next start, but hopefully AA or someone will step in and make sure Morrow gets an extra day off or two before his next start.

@ Darren - I'm not sure how important of a series it is, except from a "measuring stick" standpoint. Even a sweep probably just makes them even with the Sox, and the Jays are eight games behind Tampa and 10 behind the Yankees.

Heck though, they're playing so good right now, maybe they do have a 1986 Red Sox or 2000s Oakland Athletics run in them. The offense isn't fading, Morrow looked great today, and the rest of the rotation is average enough, a la the Twins, to keep them in games.

@ The Ack - I'll admit it's more of a gut reaction, based on who they have pitching and reading Baseball Prospectus early in the season, mixed with some KLaw thoughts. According to BP's Major League pitching stats, the Jays are 16th in VORP, 15th in FRA and 18th in ERA. I'm not real bullish on Drabek, so I'm not sure how they go from average / slightly above-average to a frontline rotation.

They're 8th in runs scored - Tons of homers, but tons of them are solo shots too, it seems. Given the black hole of Overbay at first base, it seems easier to me for them to tweak the offense a bit and became really strong there.

@ Anon 8:40 - Marcum and Romero have had good seasons, but given the health concerns of both in the past, I don't think they should automatically be counted on in the future. Both are having career years so far, at least from my casual glance at it, and in the past, neither has been considered an elite prospect. Both strike me more as Brad Radke or Andy Pettite type - solid pitchers - as opposed to Doc or Pedro or Randy Johnson level pitchers.

That Morrow guy seems pretty good though. Hopefully he can keep building on great performances, like the one he had today.

See, I don't get that. You're basing your opinion on the Jays rotation in part from anecdotal evidence from Baseball Prospectus and Keith Law....but ignoring in-season anecdotal evidence from guys like Jayson Stark who've written columns quoting opposing scouts who gush over the young arms in the Jays rotation.

Can't argue the stats, though, but I will argue your point that Romero and Marcum are having "career years", as if to say neither will approach this level again.

And....not considered elite prospects? In whose mind? Because Romero (if you can get past the whole Tulo thing) was an early 1st round pick, Cecil was a supp who never faltered at all coming up, and Marcum was a converted infielder who was probably never taken seriously as a pitcher....until he made it.

Brad Radke had a solid if unspectacular major league career. Andy Pettitte will be a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame. Yeah, I'll take one of each, please. Can't argue that nobody on the staff is a Doc or Pedro....but how many guys like that exist in the game today? I don't think that's a prerequisite for building a championship rotation, though it would obviously be nice.

See, I don't get that. You're basing your opinion on the Jays rotation in part from anecdotal evidence from Baseball Prospectus and Keith Law....but ignoring in-season anecdotal evidence from guys like Jayson Stark who've written columns quoting opposing scouts who gush over the young arms in the Jays rotation.

While I like reading Stark's columns, he tosses out so many of those kind of stories about every time that it's hard to trust him. Gammons did the same thing when he used to write for ESPN - I still remember him writing about how Reed Johnson, Gabe Gross and Vernon Wells (IIRC) would be a dominant outfield for the Jays for the next 10 years.

I realize Marcum and Romero are both young and can repeat performance, but for some reason, I'm not biting on them being this consistent in the future. Romero was a first round pick, but he didn't exactly set the minors ablaze, and I think he true talent is probably more toward 2009's line than this year's.

I guess my problem with the Jays' staff is that it seems to be built on guys who could be good, but probably won't be great, and who don't have long track records of success yet. If I had to guess, I imagine of Romero, Marcum and Cecil, one will be above-average, one will be average, and one will fall off the cliff.

That being said, I think the Jays are hurt most by their division; they probably would have made the playoffs a couple times in any other division. The AL East is ridiculous, with the Yankees a perennial power, the Red Sox very competitive, the Rays are well-constructed, and the Orioles finally have a manager that has developed young talent.

It's a nitpick, but c'mon. Molina is setting up outside and Hill is playing up the middle. Couple steps to his left by Hill and Morrow is in the record books. Still great weekend! Felt good to knock the smug Rays down a notch or two or three.

If they just keep winning 4 out 5 the rest of the way, they'll have this sewn up!